6 Fast-Growing Fruits You Can Plant in Containers Now—and Enjoy This Summer

Ever-Bearing Strawberries

Strawberries are perfect for container gardening since they have shallow root systems and produce delicious berries quickly, says Andrew Porwol, gardening expert and founder of Sapcote Garden Centre. “They’re also beautiful plants that produce pretty white flowers before the berries appear.” 

For best results, choose ever-bearing or day-neutral varieties for continued harvests throughout the summer. Plant your strawberries in well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter, making sure to keep the soil moist but not soggy.  

• Container Size: 2 gallons per plant
• Light: Full sun 
• Fruit-Bearing Time: 6 to 8 weeks (transplant); 14 to 20 weeks (from seed)
• USDA Zones: 3-10

Fig Shrub

A fig shrub is a shorter, bushier variation of a fig tree that grows nicely in a container. When purchased as an established nursery plant (versus growing from seed), they fruit easily—and often during their first year. This occurs during two primary fruiting seasons: early summer and then late summer or early fall. 

“Most figs are self-pollinating and can bear fruit the first year they are planted,” says Kaleb Wyse, gardening expert and founder of Wyse Guide. “Oftentimes, they can actually be purchased with fruit already hanging on the branches!” 

Fig shrubs prefer 6 or more hours of sun per day, and do best with well-draining soil. You can overwinter them in the garage or a basement once they go dormant in the winter months, then bring them back out when the weather warms back up.

• Container Size: 5 to 15 gallons, depending on maturity
• Light: Full sun 
• Fruit-Bearing Time: 2 to 8 weeks from established bush (plant maturity dependent)
• USDA Zones: 7-9 

Mini Watermelons

It’s not truly summer until you’ve got some watermelon to snack on, and you can grow your very own in a container in your home or on your patio. The key is to grow mini varieties, which typically weigh between three and 10 pounds and mature more quickly compared to full-sized watermelons. 

Examples include sugar babies, mini loves, bush sugar babies, little darlings, and yellow dolls. Opt for 10 to 15-gallon containers and keep the soil moist but not soggy. A trellis system is helpful for vining varieties. 

• Container Size: 10 to 15 gallons per plant
• Light: Full sun 
• Fruit-Bearing Time: 10 to 12 weeks (transplant); 11 to 14 weeks (from seed)
• USDA Zones: 4-11

Dwarf Blueberries

Newer varieties of compact dwarf blueberries are perfect for containers and produce sweet fruits without requiring years of maturity. “They offer beautiful seasonal color changes in their foliage,” Porwol says. “And most container varieties will produce fruit the first year after planting, with harvest occurring two to three months after flowering.”

He adds that blueberries prefer acidic conditions, so choose an acidic potting soil with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5 and routinely feed them an acidic fertilizer.  Make sure to water consistently, and add mulch to help the container retain moisture. water consistently, and add mulch to retain moisture. 

• Container Size: 5 gallons per plant
• Light: Full sun 
• Fruit-Bearing Time: 10 to 14 weeks (transplant); 20 to 32 weeks (from seed)
• USDA Zones: 3-7

Ground Cherries

These aren’t the same as cherries that grow on a tree, but they do pack a lot of flavor into one tiny morsel. Ground cherries, like Aunt Molly’s, Pineapple, and Goldie varieties, are golden-hued fruits that look like tiny tomatoes wrapped in papery leaves but with a tart, sweet twist. They’re prolific fruit-bearing plants and a cinch to grow in containers. Plus, their uniqueness makes them a fun treat to keep on the patio. 

Opt for a wide container to accommodate their sprawling habit, and don’t be surprised if they self-seed the following year. While they don’t require trellis support, a tomato cage or support ring can help keep branches off the ground for cleaner harvests.

• Container Size: 5 to 7 gallons per plant
• Light: Full sun
• Fruit-Bearing Time: 8 to 11 weeks (from transplant); 9 to 13 weeks (from seed)
• USDA Zones: 4–11  

Alpine Raspberries

Alpine raspberries are compact, thornless varieties of this favorite summer fruit, and they happen to grow like champs inside of containers. These flavor-packed heroes are prized for their dainty size, sweet flavor, and ability to produce reliably even in small spaces. Porwol adds, “They produce small but intensely flavored berries and don’t spread aggressively like traditional raspberries.” 

Make sure to plant alpine strawberries in deep containers—at least 15 inches—and ensure they have good drainage and rich soil. Keep the soil moist but not soggy, and feed with a balanced organic fertilizer. 

• Container Size: 3 gallons per plant
• Light: Full sun to partial shade 
• Fruit-Bearing Time: 8 to 12 weeks (transplant); 16 to 24 weeks (from seed)
• USDA Zones: 4-9